Is it unfair to make overweight people do bodyweight exercises?

It's a common feeling for anyone on the heavier side of the scale: You're standing in a well-lit exercise studio surrounded by waif-like women performing posture-perfect push-ups – and you can barely bust out one.

It makes you think – is it unfair to make people whose bodies weigh more do bodyweight exercises?

Jason Simoes, strength and conditioning coach and owner of Fierce Training, says it's definitely harder, but there are ways around it.

"I suppose it could be unfair – and depending on how overweight the person is, even potentially dangerous, but really it comes down to the level of training experience and personal strength," Simoes tells ninemsn Coach.

"It's hard to regulate exercises for different people in a large gym class, so [those who are overweight] may be better off learning easier variations with a one-on-one session."

Tanya Lewis, personal trainer at Life PT in Adelaide, says the question is very subjective, but being overweight does mean that some exercises will be much harder due to the amount of force your muscles need to produce movement.

"It is important to acknowledge that body mass will alter the difficulty of many exercises and in some cases may increase risk of injury," says Lewis.

"Extra kilograms during any impact exercise will increase force through joints and that could then contribute to injury."

Go for personal bests, not best-in-class

A major barrier to some in the gym is the constant urge to compare yourself to others – whether it's squatting more than the person next to you or cycling faster than anyone in the room. While this mental edge can be helpful, for many overweight trainees this mentality can lead to sacrificed form and disappointment.

Lewis recommends setting the benchmark of your workout based off yourself – not somebody who may be 20 kilos lighter than you.

"Don't compare with others and expect to do the same, work on technique, and set your own personal goals, rather than compete with the Instagram exercise of the day which may be an injury waiting to happen," Lewis tells Coach.

Change the exercise to suit your ability

If you can’t do a push-up on your toes, a full squat or a proper sit-up, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a sensational workout. The secret is to try variations of the classic bodyweight exercises that are a little easier until you're strong enough to perform the full versions properly.

"Try reducing the range of motion of exercises until you build up the strength to perform one perfect rep," recommends Simoes.

It's a sentiment shared by Lewis, who recommends people should try easier versions of bodyweight exercises if they're struggling at first.

"In general, look for ways to take less load off the working muscle. For example, a push-up can progress from against a wall, then from a bench or on your knees," says Lewis.

Don’t stop trying – because any exercise is good exercise

Both trainers noted that, at the end of the day, it's wonderful that people are investing time into learning proper form for bodyweight exercises, because everybody has to start somewhere.

"If you love your gym classes – don’t stop going, because sooner or later you're going to be cranking out perfect bodyweight exercises with the rest of them," says Simoes.

"It doesn’t matter whether you're a beginner or a veteran – focus on pushing yourself and having fun, and if you stick with it you'll see incredible results."

Lewis notes that exercise has so many more benefits than simply slimming your waistline.

"Three words – exercise is medicine! The evidence for exercise is overwhelming. Everything from decreased risk of certain cancers to improved heart health, decreased impact of again and enhanced cognitive performance," says Lewis.